The cost of doing business?

They haven't cut any steel yet, but the cost to taxpayers of the $25
billion dollar ship building contract has already gone up to
$25,260,000,000.

The first $25 billion will be shared by taxpayers from coast to coast, but
that last quarter-billion will come directly from the pockets of Nova
Scotians.

On Friday, the Dexter government committed $304 million to the Irving
shipyard. Of that, $260 million is a 'forgiveable' loan. In other words, if the
shipyard meets certain employment guidelines which, unless Ottawa pulls the plug
on the contract, it most certainly will, the Irvings don't have to pay the money
back. It will go from being a "forgiveable' loan to a gift from taxpayers. Or as
the government calls it - an investment in our future.

Certainly, the Irvings aren't the only company to benefit from government
money. Over the years the province has "invested" hundreds of millions of
dollars in industrial and economic development. But in each case the prudent
question is always: what would happen if the government didn't come up with the
money?

For example, if the province didn't pony up $50 million as part of the
package to make the Bowater Mersey paper mill more competitive, would the
company have simply walked away from the community, leaving hundreds unemployed?
Given the state of the pulp and paper industry the answer is, almost certainly,
yes.

If the Dexter government didn't commit $27 million to keep the bankrupt
NewPage mill, and its supply chain, intact and in a state of readiness, would
the potential buyer pull out of negotiations, leaving the court-appointed
monitor no alternative but to dismantle the mill and send its machines offshore?
Again, that is a very real possibility.

But if the province didn't give the Irvings $260 million to help modernize
its plant, would the Irvings have walked away from the biggest federal
government procurement contract since Confederation?

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